Henson election fraud trial over 'relax' robocall postponed

Julius Henson, shown in this November 2010 file photo, is on trial over an Election Day robocall that prosecutors say violated election fraud laws.

Julius Henson, shown in this November 2010 file photo, is on trial over an Election Day robocall that prosecutors say violated election fraud laws. (Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun)

Luke Broadwater, The Baltimore Sun

The election fraud trial of veteran political consultant Julius Henson has been postponed again due to scheduling conflicts.

A hearing on preliminary motions in the case, which centers on an Election Day 2010 robocall, is now scheduled for April 10 with the trial expected to start on April 30.

The case was postponed earlier this month because of the illness of a state investigator.

Henson, 62, faces two counts of conspiracy to violate election laws, one count of election fraud and one count of failing to include a campaign authority line on the call.

He is accused of using false information in an effort to suppress the black vote through an automated call that told voters in Baltimore and Prince George's County to "relax" and stay home. The call implied that Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, had already won his race against former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican.

Henson was working as a consultant to Ehrlich's campaign when the robocalls were made.

Ehrlich's campaign manager, Paul Schurick, was convicted in December of four counts in connection with the call. Schurick was sentenced to home detention and community service last week.